Online Video Series

Our online video series focuses on a wide variety of topics and skills to enhance undergraduate academic success. New episodes are released regularly. You can: 1) stream it right here; 2) subscribe to this series and download the episodes as a podcast from iTunes or IU Podcast Portal; or 3) watch them on our YouTube channel (IUB_SAC).

Yes, in 5 – 5 strategies, that is, to improve your ability to read almost anything. From matching your approach to the source, to previewing, to taking notes (like a detective, lawyer, and judge), crack the code of this essential skill!

In high school, there were some choices to be made, but not that many. A lot was basically decided for you. Suddenly you get to college, you’re in charge, and the number of options skyrockets. There’s the big one, of course – your major, your main curiosity or passion. But besides majors, there are all kinds of other “degree enhancements” you could be pursuing. This stuff is the spice, the icing, the extra sauce that really makes college an extraordinary experience and the world a broader, deeper, and richer place. How can your advisor help you sort through all of these choices?

In college, what role do academic advisors play in your life as a student? What can they help you with? And when should you go? We talk to students and advisors to get to the bottom of these important questions.

Multiple choice is great because the correct answer is right there in front of you. But how do you find it? And how can you maximize your score? First, a “bird’s-eye-view” and some general strategy. Then, tips from students, based on science, that will help you bubble your way to success. Last, some myth-busting—if you have to guess, what works (and what doesn’t)?

The core of college writing is the thesis statement. But what is it, exactly? What should it do? How do you face a blank page and get started writing one? And what are some of the challenges you might face while creating it? In this episode we tackle these questions and take you through the process. To do this, we challenge Kate and Drew to create their own thesis statements interpreting a well-known sculpture on the IU Bloomington campus. We look in on their writing, and then compare the two.

In this episode, we explore competing definitions of college success and argue that there are ways to bring them together. We poll students and faculty and discover four ways that you can accomplish this.

In this episode, we demystify note-taking in class. We sketch out some basic tips, like active listening and how to deal with the speed of lectures. We spend the most time with a mock lecture (taken from an actual IU American History course) where we compare and contrast different note-taking systems, and analyze their relative effectiveness for different kinds of material.

In this episode, we dive into one of the most difficult subjects for students: time management. We walk through how to create a prioritizing habit and put it into action. We outline how best to plan your weekly time for the semester as well as how to realistically plot outside work and study time. We wrap up by highlighting strategies to address common challenges like procrastination and heavy workloads.

In this episode, we lay out some strategies you can use to master and ace all of your quizzes, tests, and exams. We talk about preparing beforehand, including the best ways to arrange your study sessions so you remember the material and how to beat test anxiety. We also discuss what to do during the test – like how best to answer all of the different kinds of questions you’ll encounter – and what to do with tests after they’re over so you don’t repeat the same mistakes next time.

This introduction lays out the purpose and approach of the series, describing what is possible to achieve with an undergraduate education, the kind of learner that is most successful at meeting these goals, and the common obstacles students encounter along the way.

Upcoming Episodes

Episode 12: Math for the “Non-Math Person”

For More Information

Contact the coordinator, Anthony Guest-Scott, at aguestsc@indiana.edu/855-7301, or stop by the Student Academic Center (408 N. Union St. Suite 300) with any questions, suggestions, or episode ideas!